Branding device



Feb. 13, 1951 Filed Oct. 15, 1947 .J. A. BARGER BRANDING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOE KITTY Feb. 13, 1951 1 BARGER 2,541,684

BRANDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 13,1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRANDING DEVICE John A. Barger, DesMoines, Iowa Application October 15, 1947, Serial No..779,973

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to branding devices and in particularto a device for tattooing the ears of livestock. for the purpose ofidentification in registering and in testing for diseases.

Tattoo devices now in common use include a pair-of jaws, a platen on oneof the jaws and a plurality of needles supported on the second jaw.

Generally, ink is spread over the needles, prior to each penetration ofthe animals ear by the needles, as effected by a closing of the jaws.However, the ink on the needles isgenerally retained on the needles orfails to remain in the needle penetrations. In other words the inkapplied on the ear soon wears away and the only ink effective forbranding or tattooing purposes is that ink which enters and remains inthe wounds or penetrations. To overcome this condition, therefore, oncompletion of a penetration of an animals ear by the needles, thedeviceis removed and the tattoo ink is manually smeared into thepenetrations formed by the needles. This procedure is objectionablebecause it is messy, inconvenient, and results in a tattoo marking ofnonuniform characteristics.

vAfurther objection is found in the fact that in using the tattoodevices now in commonuse, the animals must be restrained as by tying, orin some instances by casting. As a result the tattooing procedure is alaborious and time-consuming job.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improveddevice for tattooing or marking an animals ear.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tattooing device inwhich the tattoo ink is ejected directly into an ear penetration formedby the tattooing needle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a branding device inwhich an ink pad is arranged and constructed to apply or smear ink-overthe ear concurrently with the penetration of the ear by the-tattooneedles.

Yet another object'of this invention is to provide a tattoo device whichis of asimple and compact construction, and capable of performing atattooing operation quickly and efficiently withoutrequiring anyrestraint on the animal being tattooed.

A particular feature of this invention is found in the provision of abranding device for an animals ear having a pair of cooperating jaws, inwhich aplaten-is carried on one of the jaws and a plurality of needleson the other jaw. The points of the needles are, formed with ink holdingcavities. When the jaws are closed the needle points'penetrate the earsuch that the cavities are substantially within the penetrations. Meansare provided to separate the jaws with a snap movement such that the inkfrom the cavity is ejected directly into the penetrations concur-.rently with the removal or withdrawal of the ieedles from thepenetrations.

Another feature of this invention is found in the provision of a devicefor tattooing an animals ear having apair of cooperating jaws, in whicha platen is carried on the first oneof the jaws. and a plurality ofneedles are supported on the second jaw. An ear pressing device movablysupported on one of the jaws, is movable in response to a closingmovement ofthe jaws to flatten an animals ear over the platen so as tofacilitate the penetration of the earby the needles. The needle pointsare formed withink-holding cavitiesfrom which the ink is ejected intothe penetrations concurrently with the withdrawal of the needles fromthe penetrations- Further, an ink pad. is carried on the second jaw suchthat ink there from is transferred or smeared on to the ear about theneedle penetrations.v As aresult ink is spread or smeared about thepenetrations con,- currently with an injection of ink directly into thepenetrations to assure a positive distribution of theink into the woundsor penetrations.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the branding device of thisinvention with the jaws thereof shown in their cooked or set positions;

Fig. 2 is a view illustrated similarly to Fig. 1 showing the jaws intheir sprung or closed posi, tions;

Fig. 3 is a View illustrated similarly to Fig. .1 withthe jaws shown intheir positions when the jaw closing spring is in its retracted ornormalposition; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the jaws shown intheir positions illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front View looking toward the right .in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a tattoo needle forming partof thebranding device of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the arrangement of theplaten, inkpad and tattoo needles relative to an animals ear, when thejaws are approaching their closed positions shown in Fig. 2;

of the jaws 1, 2 and 3 as including a pair of pivoted operating leversI5 and I6, pivotally connected intermediate their ends at I1 and havingcooperating 'jaws I8 and I9, respectively, at one of their ends. Thejaws I8 and I9 are moved toa closed position on movement of theircorresponding lever ends 2I and 22, respectively, away from each other.

The movement of the jaws I8 and I9 to their closed positions, shown inFig. 2, is accomplished by means including a coil spring 23 which isconnected between the lever ends 2! and 22. On a manual movement of thelever ends 2I and 22 toward each other, the spring 23 is compressed toset or cook the jaws I8 and I9 for operation as will appear later on.The jaws are releasably held in a set position, shown in Fig. 1, by atrigger member 24 pivoted at 26 on the lever I5 and formed with ashoulderor latch 21 adapted to releasably engage a hook or catch 28formed at the free end of the lever end 22. The trigger 24 is biasedtoward an engaging position with the catch 28 by a coil spring 29arranged in compression between the lever end 2I and a projection 3|extended rearwardly from the trigger member 24.

. Integrally formed with the lever I5, and at its end 2I, is a handle32, by which the device is held in the manner of a revolver, with onefinger receivable in a loop 33 provided on the trigger member 24. Onactuation of the trigger the spring 23 is released whereby the jaws I8and I9 are moved toward each other to a closed position, as shown inFig. 2. a

Y The free end of the jaw I9 is cut away to form a recess, shown at 36(Fig. 2). Positioned within the recess 36 is a transversely extendedsupport member 31 which has an upright lip .38 arranged at the forwardend of the jaw I9. A needle unit, indicated generally at 39, isreceivable on the supporting member 31 (Figs. 2 and 4) with its frontside against the lip 38. To look the needle unit in a desired positiontransversely of the supporting member 31, there is provided a clampmember 42 having its forward end 43 engageable with the rear side of.the needle unit 39. A clamping or holding action of the clamp 42 isaccomplished by a bolt 44 extended through the rear end of the clamp andthe jaw member I9.

The needle unit 39 is comprised of a metal block member 46 (Figs. 1 and4.) which carries a plurality of needles 41 rigidly secured in the block48 and arranged in a predetermined spaced relation. Each needle 41 (Fig.6) is formed in its point 48 ,with an ink receiving cavity 49 which isopen to the free end of the point through a longitudinal narrow passageor slit 50. An ink pad 5I is pressed over the needles 41 so that itslower side rests against the top side of the block member 46. The pad 5Iis of a size to substantially cover the block member 46 and of athickness such that the needle points 48 project upwardly from itsinking or top surface 52.

The jaw I8 is provided with a platen 53, composed of a rubber or likeflexible material and arranged so as to be opposite the needle unit 89when the jaws I8 and I9 are in their closed positions.

A presser member, designated generally as 54 (Figs. 1 and 4) isintegrally formed with an open rectangular frame 55 corresponding inshape to the platen 53 but slightly larger in size than the platen 53.The frame 56 is carried at the forward end of a fiat arm member 51formed with oppositely arranged upright ears 58 which are pivoted at 59on the jaw I8. A coil spring 6|, mounted about an adjusting screw 62which is threadable through the jaw I8 is arranged in compressionbetween the jaw I8 and the presser member 54 so as to normally yieldablyhold the open frame 56 in a stop position spaced from the jaw Thisstopposition is defined by the engagement of the rear end 53 of the pressermemher arm 51 with the inclined portion 64 of the jaw I8. I

During a closing movement of the jaws I8 and I9, the frame 58 of thepresser member 54 is initially engaged by the forward side 43 of theclamp member 42. When this engagement is effected, the jaw I9 and themember 54 are movable together as a unit, against the action of thespring (H, to a closing position of the jaws I8 and I9 defined by theengagement of 1 the arm 51 of the presser member 54 with the lower end58 of the adjusting screw 62 (Fig. 2). In other words, the shank of thescrew 62 is not completely extendible through the spring SI and merelyacts as a support for the upper end of the spring 5i. The lower end ofthe spring 6| is supported on a punched out portion 13 formed in the arm51 (Fig. 5.).

In the use of the branding device of this in vention the device isinitially set in its safety position, in which the latch 28 on the leverend 22 is in locked engagement with a forwardly and upwardly extendedhook 14 formed at the lower end of the trigger member 24. The relativeconstruction of the latch 28 and hook 14 is such that the latch 28 isincapable of being released from the hook 14 when a rearward pull isapplied on the trigger 24. As will be readily apparent, the jaws I8 andI9 in their safety position are spaced apart a distance which issomewhat less than the distance in Fig. 1 for a fully cooked .or setposition of the jaws.

With the jaws in their safety position, a tattooing ink is applied by abrush or like means across the needle points 48 and the top or inkingsurface 52 of the ink pad 5|. During this brushing operation ink is alsosupplied to the ink holding cavities 49 in the needlepoints 48. On com--pletion of this inking operation the lever ends 2I and 22 are manuallymoved together, from a safety position of the jaws I8 and I9 to providefor the releasable engagement of the latch 28 with the trigger shoulder21, as shown in Fig. 1. With the device gripped at the handle 32 ananimals ear is positioned between the platen 53 and the frame 56 of thepresser member 54.

When the ear is thus positioned, the trigger 24 is actuated to releasethe spring 23 and in turn provide for a movement of the jaws I8 and I9to their closed positions shown in Fig. 2. l

On a closing of the jaws I8 and I9 the animals ear is initially engagedby the open frame 56; which acts to straighten o'r flatten that portionof the car which is arranged opposite the platen 53 so as to facilitatethe penetration of the ear by the needle points 41. On completion of theear penetrating operation the jaws I8 and I9 are .by-the recoil actionof the spring 23.

is greater than its normal length, and then returns to its normalposition. The spring thus undergoes a recoil action which imparts a snapmovement to the jaws away from each other on the completion of an earpenetrating operation by theneedles 41. This snap movement of the jawsl8 and I9 is utilizedinthe present invention to provide for a positiveand efficient tattoo marking on the animals eargas will now beexplained- Thus, as shown in Fig. 7, when the jaws i8 and I9 areapproaching their closed position, illustrated in Fig. 2, the animalsear, indicated at 19, is loosely positioned between the platen 53 andthe open frame 58 of the presser member 54. Further, the needle points43 are projected from the ink pad a distance such that approximately thelower half portions of the cavities 49 are arranged below the level ofthe inking surface 52.

On closing of the jaws i8 and I9, and referring to Fig. 8, the ear i9 isstraightened out by the presser member frame 56. Further, the ink pad 5!is slightly compressed, by virtue of its being forced against the platen53, through the car 79, so that the inking surface 52 is moved down fromthe needle points 48 such that the cavities 49 are to the outside of thepad 5!. By virtue of this pressing action of the pad 5! against the ear19, ink is transferred from the surface 52 over that portion of the eari9 engaged by the pad 5| and about the needle points 48. Concurrentlywith this action of the presser member frame 55 and the ink pad 5!, theear is is penetrated by the needle points 48.

On the snap movement of the jaws l8 and i9 away from each other, aseffected by the recoil action of the spring 23, the ink is ejected fromthe cavities 49 directly into the needle penetrations, indicated as 8!in Fig. 9. Concurrently with this ink ejection action, the pressuremember frame 55 is pivotally moved away from the platen 53 so as toleave the ear I9 completely free of the device on completion of abranding operation.

Thus from a consideration of Figs. '7, 8 and 9, it is seen that in theclosing of the jaws l8 and IS the ear 19 is initially engaged betweenthe presser member frame 56 and platen 53 and then penetrated by theneedle points 48 and covered with ink by the inking surface 52. On aseparation of the laws [8 and IS the ink 35 (Fig. 9) from the needlecavities 49, is ejected directly into the needle penetrations 8|. As aresult, during each tattooing operation ink is both smeared or spreadover the ear and ejected into the needle penetrations 8|. The action ofthe spring 23 to remove the ink from the cavities 49 into thepenetrations 8| is possibly supplemented by the creating of a vacuum inthe penetrations 8! as the needle points 48 are withdrawn therefrom.

When a branding operation is completed, the device is returned to itssafety position and ad ditional ink applied to the pad 5! and over theneedle points 48. On cocking of the device, it is again ready for use.

From a consideration of the above description it is seen that theinvention provides a branding device which is of asimple and compactconstruction and automatically operable to distribute ink over ananimals ear about the penetrations formed in the .eanby the "tattoo'needles, 'concun rently with an ejection orink directly into thepenetrations. As a result a manual smearingso'f the ink within theneedle penetrations isv coinpletely eliminated. Further, it will benoted that the needle points 58 are relatively blunt. .In practice ithas been found that the blunt needle forms an ear penetration which issubject to very little bleeding and a minimum production of any healingfluid secretion so that the ink tends .to remain within and about thepenetrations.

By virtue of the fact that the deviceiis com 'pletely automatic and fastin operation, it is unnecessary that the animal be tied or restrained inany way during the tattooing operation. Stated otherwise, an animal canbe tattooed While it is in a stall, or'fe'eding in a yard. Since thecomplete operation takes place in a very short period of time, and withthe device being .entirely free of the ear on completion of a tattooingoperation, the entire procedure takes place before an animal is aware asto what is happening.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited since changes can be made therein which are within the fullintended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for branding an animals ear, a pair of pivoted levershaving cooperating jaw members at one of their ends, a needle support onone of said jaws, a plurality of needles in said support formed with inkholding cavities adjacent their points, a platen on the other of saidjaws, a coil spring for moving said jaws together connected between theother ends of said levers, means for releasably holding said springcompressed between said other lever ends, means for releasing saidspring to actuate said jaw members, said spring, when released, movingsaid jaw members together to a closed position therefor and thenrecoiling to move said jaw members apart, with said recoil actionproviding for the ink in said cavities being ejected therefrom into theear penetrations made by said needles.

2. In a device for branding an animals ear having a pair of pivotedlevers with cooperating jaw members at one of their ends, a platen onone of said jaws, a plurality of needles supported in a predeterminedrelation on the other of said jaws and having ink holding cavitiesformed therein adjacent to their points, a coil spring connected betweenthe other ends of said levers so as to be compressed therebetween whensaid other lever ends are moved together to open said jaws, means forreleasably holding said spring in its compressed position, and means forreleasing said spring holding means to provide for the closing of thejaws by said spring, with the recoil action of said spring providing forthe ejection of the ink from said cavities into the portions of theanimals ear penetrated by said needles.

3. In a device for branding an animals ear having a pair of pivotedcooperating jaws, a platen on one of said jaws, a plurality of needlessupported in a predetermined relation on the other of said jaws, saidneedles being formed at their points with ink-holding cavities, a membermovably carried on one of said jaws for flattening an animals ear oversaid platen, a compression spring for closing said jaws to provide for apenetration of said needle points into an animals ear, means connectingsaid spring between said jaws so as to be compressed when said jaws arein open positions therefor, means for releasably holding said spring inits compressed position, means for releasing said spring holding meansto close said jaws, means for moving said movable member in response toa closing movement of said jaws, with the recoil action of said spring,on completion of said penetration, imparting a snap movement of saidother jaw away from said one jaw to provide for the ejection of ink fromsaid ,cavities' into the penetrations made by said needles, and meansfor moving said movable member away from said platen concurrently withthe separation of said other jaw from said one jaw.

JOHN A. BARGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

' UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Number 15 601,888

